These notes are not intended as Minutes and do not report on each Meeting held. The aim is to give an observer's view of significant points as progress is made.

AGM 30 Nov 2015

The Treasurer reported that accounts had been prepared and submitted to Companies House. He said that donations of £17,700 had been received during the period and £849 had been paid for services and maintenance. Refunds amounting to £292 had been obtained on legal and professional fees resulting in a net income of £16,445 for the period.

The Articles of Association require that 1/3 of Trustees resign each year but are then eligible for re-election. John Murgatroyd resigned and was returned unopposed. David McKeown was elected as a Member of the Trust.

The Chairman reported that Bob Tribble had been unable to continue to manage the project and his position had been accepted by Ed James. During the year Hazel Hayden had been elected as a Trustee. He thanked Great and Little Chishill Parish Council for its support and its representative on the Trust, Simon Dring, for his work seeking grant opportunities. The number of Friends of the Windmill had grown to 170 and a number of fund raising activities had taken place. The Chairmanparticularly noted the Windmill Day, with its children's art competition, participation in the Village Fun Day, a recipe book being compiled by Hazel Hayden and the Windmill Dance Group organised by David and Wendy McKeown. Finally in his report, the Chairman expressed frustration at the slow progress towards actual restoration work but he reminded the Meeting of the necessity to check all legal requirements and make applications for consents.

2 Nov 2015

The fund at the bank was noted to be just over £19,500, with a further £15,000 held in trust by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.

An Historic England representative had advised that an application for Listed Buildings Consent should be sent to South Cambs Planning Office to ensure that there was no ambiguity on what could or could not be done without prior approval. Whilst this might introduce further delay, it was agreed that an application should be submitted together with a letter explaining the urgent necessity for the fitting of the trestle retaining straps to ensure the safety of the structure.

The draft of a recipe book had been completed and quotations had been sought for a print run of 200. A price of £7.50 per copy was agreed.

The Windmill Dance Group reported success with the initiative to conduct beginners classes and had raised over £300 in eight weeks. Classes were continuing beyond the initial period so more funds were to be expected.

A scale drawing of the windmill had been received and was passed to the renovation team for its use.

A discussion was held on what information should be circulated and what posted on the website following comment from a family that had left a legacy to the Trust.

The date for the 2015 AGM was set for 30 November.

28 Sept 2015

The Treasurer reported that, with the addition of money raised at the Village Fun Day and a grant of £2,000 from GLCPC, the finances now stood at just over £20,200. He was awaiting an invoice for grass cutting.

It was requested that GLCPC be appraised that money in the Trust's account transferred from SPAB could only be used for actual restoration work,

Contact had been made with a Consultant Conservation Officer who stated that 'like-for-like' replacements for reason of safety could go ahead. Since 1 April 2015, Historic England had become the body responsible for listed and historic buildings. Contact had been made with the inspector for Eastern England, person with particular knowledge of windmill repairs. She had been asked to arrange a meeting with the local council to clarify responsibility and requirements for granting permission to work. The retaining straps had been made and were available for fitting when permission was granted.

A recipe book was being compiled as a means of both fund-raising and villagers were being asked to contribute. It was noted that involvement in the Village Fun Day had been a great success.

It was suggested that detailed measurements and drawings of the mill would be very useful as work progressed. The Chairman reported that a visitor to the village had asked to take detailed measurement for a model he wished to make. He had offered to make his drawing available to the Trust.​

10 Aug 2015

Finance stood at just under £18,400. It was noted that the person cutting the grass would be changing.

During the bat survey a single dead bat had been found but this most likely meant that a night survey in the breeding season would be necessary to establish whether or not there was a breeding roost in the building.

Paperwork and drawings were being prepared to accompany an application for Listed Building Consent. It was found that the drawings needed conversion to metric measurements and arrangements had been made for their provision.

It was agreed that the Trust should have a table at the village fete on 30 August.​

30 Mar and 5 May 2015

The Treasurer reported that the account balance now stood just under £18,800, including a donation of £500 from a villager and a refund from CCC.

Conservationists with experience of Wicken Fen and Guilden Morden mills had agreed to assist the Trust and had sought advice from SCDC Planning Office on what work required prior permission. They had been told that no-one at the department could help them and had been advised to speak with English Heritage (EH), even though when such advice had been sought from EH in 2014, it had advised that permission should be sought through SCDC! Contact was being made once more with EH.

Planning and publicity for the village meeting on 13 June was also discussed in detail.

It was suggested that a bat survey might be advisable.​

9 Feb 2015​Grants and fund raising methods were discussed at length. It was noted that, whilst GLCPC could apply for loans of up to £200,000 at reasonable rates, this was not the most practical solution as the village precept would require to be increased. The committee agreed to concentrate on the Heritage Lottery and other potential sources of grants. It was considered that a brochure describing the mill, its problems and the renovation plans would be worth pursuing.

An architect with experience in listed building work attended for some of the meeting and suggested that it was advisable to apply for Listed Building Consent through the local District Council Planning Department who would most likely pass it to English Heritage.

Th treasurer reported that £15,000 had been received from SPAB and that the account stood just under £18,000 after payment for a tarpaulin and for grass cutting.

​A village meeting, as suggested at the AGM, had been arranged for 13 June 2015 and the details were outlined and discussed. It was to include a talk by a millwright and would feature a children's painting competition. Provision of publicity via the website and village newsletters was also agreed.​

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.